Adjustable label form slitter for addressing machines

ABSTRACT

AN ARTICLE ADDRESSING MACHINE FOR USE WITH AN UNCUT LABEL SUPPLY SHEET. THE ADDRESSING MACHINE INCLUDES A LABELING HEAD WITH A LABEL TRANSFER WHEEL AND TRANSPORT MEANS FOR SUPPLYING ARTICLES TO THE TRANSFER WHEEL FOR ADDRESSING THEREOF. A GUILLOTINE CUTTER SEVES TO CUT THE LABEL SHEET TRANVERSELY, THERE BEING A LABEL TRANSPORT BELT TO CARRY THE CUT LABELS FROM THE CUTTER TO THE TRANSFER WHEEL. MEANS ARE PROVIDED TO ADVANCE FRESH LABEL SHEET TO THE CUTTER WITH ROTARY KNIVES UPSTREAM OF THE CUTTER TO PRESLIT THE LABEL SHEET TRANSVERSELY BETWEEN THE LABEL ROWS BEFORE THE LABEL SHEET REACHES THE CUTTER. TO FACILITATE HANDLING OF DIFFERENT SIZE AND TYPE LABEL SHEETS, THE ROTARY KNIVES AND THEIR COOPERATING SHEARS ARE SUPPORTED FOR ADJUSTING MOVEMENT TRANSVERSE OF THE LABEL SHEET, WITH RELEASABLE LOCKING MEANS BEING PROVIDED TO MAINTAIN THE KNIVES AND SHEARS FIXED IN SELECTED POSITION.

Dec. 26, 1972 H. c. ARTELT, JR 3,707,424

ADJUSTABLE LABEL FORM SLITTER FOR ADDRESSING MACHINES Filed Aug. 31,1970 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. HERBERT C. ARTELIJR A TTOR/VEY Dec. 26,1972 H. c. ARTELT, JR 3,707,424

ADJUSTABLE LABEL FORM SLITTER ESSING MACHINES FiledsAug. 31, 1970 FORADDR 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 26, 1972 H. c; ARTELT, JR

ADJUSTABLE LABEL FORM SLITTER FOR ADDRESSING MACHINES FiledAug. 31, 19706 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 1972 H. c ARTELT, JR 07,424

ADJUSTABLE LABEL FORM SLITTER FOR ADDRESSING MACHINES Filed Aug. 31,1970 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 26, 1972 H. c. ARTELT, JR

ADJUSTABLE LABEL FORM SLITTER FOR ADDRESSING MACHINES Filed Aug. 31,1970 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ill-Ill r IE Fm Dec. 26, 1972 Q ARTELT, JR3,707,424

ADJUSTABLE LABEL FORM SLITTER FOR ADDRESSING MACHINES Filed Aug. 31,1970 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent 3,707,424 ADJUSTABLE LABELFORM SLITIER FOR ADDRESSING MACHINES Herbert C. Artelt, Jr., Wildwood,Ill., assignor to Kollsman Instrument Corporation, Syosset, N.Y. FiledAug. 31, 1970, Ser. No. 68,289 Int. Cl. B32b 31/18; B65c 9/08, 9/26 US.Cl. 156-521 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An article addressingmachine for use with an uncut label supply sheet. The addressing machineincludes a labeling head with a label transfer wheel and transport meansfor supplying articles to the transfer wheel for addressing thereof. Aguillotine cutter serves to cut the label sheet transversely, therebeing a label transport belt to carry the cut labels from the cutter tothe transfer wheel. Means are provided to advance fresh label sheet tothe cutter with rotary knives upstream of the cutter to preslit thelabel sheet transversely between the label rows before the label sheetreaches the cutter. To facilitate handling of different size and typelabel sheets, the rotary knives and their cooperating shears aresupported for adjusting movement transverse of the label sheet, withreleasable locking means being provided to maintain the knives andshears fixed in selected position.

This invention relates to article addressing machines,

and more particularly to an improved label form slitting means forarticle addressing machines.

In machines for addressing articles such as envelopes, newspapers andthe like, labels are supplied conveniently in the form of a sheet orstrip of uncut labels normally arranged in rows four or five abreast.Typically, these labels are generated by a computer. As can beappreciated, the addressing machines include knife means to cut thesupply sheet or strip into individual labels as required for use by themachine. Following cutting, the individual labels are transported orcarried to a transfer means where the address information or the labelitself is transferred to the articles.

However, the label size and number of label rows on the label supplysheet or strip may vary from time to time. For example, in someapplications, the label supply sheet may have labels arranged in fourrows. In a later application however, this may change to a five-rowconfiguration. Any change in label sizes, orientation, etc. o

normally necessitates a change or adjustment of the label knife means,particularly those knives which cut the label sheet along its axis, ifcorrect sizing of the labels is to be assured.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved article addressing machine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an articleaddressing machine incorporating improved means for cutting the labelsupply sheet into individual labels for use by the addressing machine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable knifearrangement for preslitting an uncut label supply sheet before the sheetreaches the label cutter, the knife arrangement facilitating changeoverfrom one label size to another.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an easilyadjustable roller knife and anvil arrangement for preslitting uncutlabel supply sheets.

This invention relates to an article addressing machine adapted for usewith a label supply sheet having margin portions with labelstherebetween arranged in one or more longitudinally extending rows, thecombination Patented Dec. 26, 1972 comprising, transfer means fortransferring labels to the articles; article transport means forbringing articles into transfer relationship with the transfer means foraddressing thereof; means for cutting the label sheet between successivelabels; label transport means at the outlet of the cutting means fortransporting the labels to the transfer means; means cooperahle with thelabel sheet margins to advance the label sheet to the cutting means; andadjustable knife means upstream of the cutting means for slitting thelabel sheet longitudinally along the edge of each label row to separatethe label sheet into individual label rows and remove the sheet marginsbefore cutting thereof by the cutting means.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the ensuingdescription and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing the addressing machine of thepresent invention coupled with a discharge conveyor;

FIG. 2 is a front view with parts broken away showing details of thelabeling head for the addressing machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the labeling head shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 showingthe label sheet feeding and cutting mechanisms of the labeling headshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the labeling head guillotine cutter;

FIG. 6 is an end view partially in section of the labeling head shown inFIG. 2 showing details of the labeling head driving mechanism; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged isometric view with parts broken away showingdetails of the adjustable slitting knives for the labeling head shown inFIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown the labeling or addressingmachine, designated generally by the numeral 10, of the presentinvention. As will appear more fully hereafter, addressing machine '10serves to transfer labels 11 themselves, or the information thereon, toarticles 13. Uncut labels 11 are supplied to labeling head 16 ofaddressing machine 10 from a sheet or form 20 on which labels 11 arearranged longitudinally in one or more rows 64. For explanationpurposes, a five row arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 2. As willappear, label sheet 20 is cut into individual labels 11 which arecarried by transport belt 35 to transfer wheel 17. Wheel 17 thentransfers the label itself or the information thereon to articles 13.

As is understood by those skilled in the addressing or labeling art,labels 11 may be physically transferred to articles 13 as by gluing.Alternately, the label information only may be transferred to thearticles. In this latter instance, wax impressions on the label aretransferred with the aid of heat and pressure to the articles, the usedlabels preferably being collected in a suitable storage tray (not shown)for possible reuse as glued labels or simply destroyed. In this lattertype of application, transfer shoe 30 of wheel 17 incorporates suitableheating means (not shown) to facilitate transfer of the labelinformation.

Articles 13, which may comprise envelopes, cards, newspapers, and thelike, are stored in hopper 12. Article transport 14 carries the articles13 one at a time past transfer wheel 17 where the articles are labeled.The labeled articles may be then carried to a suitable take awayconveyor 18 by transport 14.

Addressing machine 10 has a table-like base 15 on which article hopper12 and article transport 14 are operatively supported, the feedingsurface of transport 14 being substantially level with the surface ofbase 15. In this arrangement, articles 13 rest partially on the surfaceof base as they are caried past transfer wheel 17 by transport 14.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, transfer wheel17 is supported by drive shaft 17'. Shaft 17' is rotatably journaled inthe frame member 26 of labeling head 16. Frame member 26 is in turnmounted on base 15 adjacent transport 14. Transfer wheel 17 has a curvedlabel transfer shoe mounted on the periphery thereof and extendingpartially about the circumference of wheel 17. Wheel 17 is supported onframe member 26 opposite a suitable pressure roll (not shown) carried bybase 15 and between which articles 13 are carried by transport 14.Suitable adjusting means (not shown) may be provided to enable thespacing between transfer wheel shoe 30 and the surface of the pressureroll to be varied to accommodate different thickness articles anddifferent pressure requirements.

Vacuum holddown ports 31 (shown in FIG. 6) open to the periphery of shoe30. Ports 31 communicate via suitable control valve means (not shown)with a vacuum source to provide vacuum to theperiphery of label transfershoe 30 for temporarily attaching labels 11 to shoe 30 during thelabeling process.

In applications where labels 11 are physically attached to articles 13asby gluing, vacuum holddown ports 31 of transfer shoe 30 are opened tothe vacuum source as shoe 30 moves from a point opposite lower drivepulley 38 of label transport to the area opposite article transport 14.In applications where the label information only is transferred, thevacuum control valve means in transfer wheel 17 may be altered tosustain vacuum to ports 31 of shoe 30 until shoe 30 is past the labeltransfer point. This facilitates removal of the used labels from thetransfer area and deposit in a used label storage tray when used.

It is understood that in applications where labels 11 are physicallyattached to articles 13, a suitable glue dispenser or applicator, suchas a dispensing roller (not shown), is provided to coat the underside ofthe label with adhesive prior to contact of the label with the articlebeing addressed. In this application, the glue dispensing roller isnormally disposed above article transport 14 and to the left of transferwheel '17 as seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

Label transport belt 35 is supported by a pair of pulleys 38, 39rotatably journaled on frame member 26. Lower pulley 38, which as willappear comprises the drive pulley for belt 35, is arranged proximate thepath of movement of transfer wheel shoe 30. Pulley 39, which comprisesan idler pulley, is supported at the remote end 26 of frame member 26just beyond the effective cutting width of guillotine 40.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2-4 of the drawings, transport belt 35comprises a flexible belt perforated at spaced points along its length.The upper run of label transport belt 35 rides in recess 43 of elongatedvacuum distributing member or distributor 44 secured to frame 26underneath the discharge side of guillotine 40. Vacuum distributingmember 44 is sized to extend substantially the full distance betweenpulleys 3 8, 39, ends 44' of member 44 being suitably curved to matewith the curved portions of pulleys 38, 39 opposite thereto. The labelsupporting surface 48 of vacuum distributing member 44 is substantiallyflat with belt recess 43 extending centrally along the length thereof,the depth of recess 43 being such that the upper surface of belt 35 issubstantially level with or slightly higher than the surface 48 ofmember 44. As best seen in FIG. 4, a raised outer lip 50 is providedalong the outer edge of label supporting surface 48. The inside edge oflabel supporting surface 48 is defined by the lower cutting edge 66 ofguillotine extending therealong.

Vacuum distributing member 44 has a vacuum chamber 46 thereincommunicated through distributor hoses 47 with a vacuum source,represented by supply hose 97.

A series of vacuum ports 49 are provided along the length of transportbelt recess 43 to supply vacuum from chamber 46 to label transport belt35 as belt 35 moves along recess 43. As can be understood, thisarrangement provides, in cooperation with perforations 42 in belt 35,vacuurn along the upper run of belt 35 to tack or attach the labels tobelt 35 following operation of guillotine 40 and enable belt 35 totransport the labels laterally to transfer wheel 17.

Lower drive pulley 38 has vacuum ports 52 (best seen in FIG. 3) openingto the periphery thereof to provide holddown vacuum for carrying thelabels therealong to transfer wheel 17. Suitable vacuum control means(not shown) serve to control vacuum admission to ports 52 so as toprovide vacuum to the periphery of pulley 38 in the area extending fromvacuum distributing member 44 to a point opposite label transfer wheel17.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, a pair of shafts 55, 56 arerotatably journaled on rear supports 62 of labeling head frame member26. A pair of feed sprockets 58 are secured to lower shaft 55, sprocketsbeing arranged to engage perforations 60 in margins 65 of label form 20.In addition, shaft 55 has mounted at spaced points therealong disc-likeshearing members 61, the number and position of members 61 correspondingto the points where form 20 is to be slit longitudinally between labelrows 64 and margins 65 removed. Upper shaft 56 has mounted thereon incutting relationship to members 61 rotary knives or slitters 63. As canbe understood, knives 63 cooperate with members 61 to preslit label form20 in a lengthwise direction to thereby remove margins 65 and separateform 20 into individual rows 64. The slitted label rows 64 are later cutinto individual labels 11 by guillotine 40. As will appear, shaft 55 isintermittently rotated to advance label sheet 20 toward guillotine 40,shaft 56 being suitably geared to shaft 55 for concurrent rotationtherewith.

Referring particularly to FIG. 7, each shearing member 61 is slidablysupported on a cylindrical housing 100. The housings are in turnslidably positioned on shaft 55, the dimension of the bore 103 inhousings 100 being slightly greater than the diameter of shaft 55 toaccommodate slidable movement of housings 100 along shaft 55. Eachmember 61 and its associated housing 100 are held against rotation onshaft 56 by means of locking key 101 as will appear more fullyhereinafter.

Housings 100 each have an enlarged diameter portion 102 at one endserving to limit slidable movement of the member 61 thereon in onedirection (toward the right as seen in FIG. 7). The opposite end 104 ofeach housing 100 is formed as a segmented cone, slots 105 thereinenabling the housing end 104 to be compressed radially inward into tightgripping engagement with shaft 55 as will appear. A portion of theexterior of each housing 100 adjoining end 104 is threaded at 106 toreceive clamping collar 107.

Clamping collars 107 are disc-like members having a cone-shaped interiorbore 109 cooperable with the coneshaped segmented end 104 of housing 100to compress housing end 104 radially inward into gripping engagementwith shaft 55. The remaining portion of the collar bore is threaded topermit threading of collar 107 onto the threaded portion 106 of housing100. Coil springs 110 are provided between each member 61 and the collar107 associated therewith, springs 110 serving to bias members 61 towardthe enlarged end 102 of housing 100 and into operative engagement withthe side of the rotary knife 63 associated therewith.

Shaft 55 is provideed with a slot-like recess 111 along the lengththereof within which the locking key 101 for each member 61 is adaptedto ride. Each housing 100 has a slot-like opening 112 to accommodate key101, the key 101 projecting through housing 100 and into an elongatedslot-like opening 113 in the shank portion 114 of the member 61a As canbe understood, keys 101 serve to drivingly connect both the member 61and housing 100 with shaft 55 for rotation in unison therewith. Thelocking collar 107, when tightened on the housing 100, serves to forcethe segmented end 104 of the housing 100 radially inward into grippingengagement with shaft 55 to thereby lock the housing 100 against axialmovement on shaft 100. On release of collar 107, the housing 100together with its member 61 may be slid axially along shaft 55 to adifferent portion.

The outer periphery of each knife 63 is tapered at 63' to provide asharp knife-like cutting edge about the periphery thereof. An internallythreaded collar 115 is suitably secured to the inside surface of eachknife 63, collar 115 being threaded onto an externally threaded lockingcylinder 116. The interior bores of each knife 63 and the lockingcylinder 116 associated therewith are slightly larger than the outsidediameter of shaft 56 to enable the individual knife assemblies to beslid along shaft 56 during adjustment thereof.

The opposite end 117 of locking cylinder 116 comprises a segmented cone,slots 118 therein enabling the end 117 of cylinder 116 to be compressedradially inward into gripping engagement with shaft 56.

A clamping collar 120 is provided for threading onto locking cylinder116 adjacent segmented end 117 thereof. The interior of collar 120 iscone-shaped at 121 so that threading of collar 120 onto cylinder 116brings the coneshaped interior 121 of collar 120 into compressiveengagement with segmented end 117 of locking cylinder 116 to force thatportion of cylinder 116 into gripping engagement with shaft 56. By thismeans, knives 63 are secured in position on and for rotation in unisonwith shaft 56. In the arrangement illustrated, shafts 55, 56 are roundwhen viewed in cross section and locking key 101 and clamping collar 120serve to drivingly couple shearing members 61 and knives 63 to shafts55, 56 respectively. It is understood however that shafts 55, 56 and thebore portions of members 61 and knives 63, as well as the matingsurfaces between member 61 and housing 100, may be irregular rather thanround, as for example, square. In that event, the requisite drivingengagement between members 61 and knives 63 with their respective shafts55, 56 would be obtained, and key 101 would be dispensed with whilecollar 120 would only serve to hold knives 63 against lateral movementon shaft 56.

Preferably, form feed sprockets 58 on shaft 56 are supported in the samemanner as knives 63 to permit lateral adjusting movement of sprockets 58in correspondence the size label form 20 used.

To support the slitted label form as the form feeds toward guillotine40, frame member 26 is provided with a relatively smooth lower guidingbase 68 which extends to vacuum distributing member 44 and forms thelower cutting .edge 66 of guillotine 40. Spaced upper guides 67cooperate with base 68 to guide the label rows 64 to guillotine 40. a

In addition to lower cutting edge 66, guillotine 40 includes an upperknife 69. Knife 69 is carried by part 70 slidably supported for up anddown movement in vertical grooves 71 in labeling head frame member 26.Upper knife part 70 is reciprocated by means of an eccentric shaft 74rotatably journaled in frame extensions 62 and connected to part 70 bylinks 76. Links 76 are journaled on eccentric shaft 74 by suitablebearing means (not shown) and are secured to part 70 by suitable pinmeans. As will appear, eccentric shaft 74 is driven in unison withvacuum drive pulley 38 from drive belt 78, shown in FIG. 6.

To maintain the slitted label sheet stationary during operation ofguillotine 40, collapsible braking members 80 are suspended from thelower surface of knife part 70. Braking members 80, which are slidablyreceived in recesses 81 in part 70, are biased downwardly by springs 82toward guiding base 68. As can be understood, on movement of part 70toward base 68, braking members first contact the slitted label sheet 20to hold sheet 20 stationary during operation of guillotine 40.

To correlate feed of labels 11 with cyclic operation of label transferwheel 17, the cutting edge '69 of knife 69 is angled so that knife 69,during the cutting stroke thereof, cuts in a scissors-like fashion fromright to left as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 5. Labels 11 are accordingly cutoff one by one so that there results on label transport belt 35, whichis continuously driven, a series of labels 11 spaced a predetermineddistance from one another. It is understood that the relative operatingspeeds of the several component parts of labeling head 16 includingguillotine 40 and transport belt 35 are chosen to provide predeterminedspacing between the labels 11 on transport belt 35 as will assure acontinuous supply of labels to shoe 30 of transfer wheel 17, each labelbeing positioned on shoe 30 in proper location for transfer of the labelitself, or the address information therefrom, onto articles 13 as thearticles are brought forward by article transport 14.

Addressing machine 10 is driven by a suitable motor (not shown), therebeing suitable power transfer means from the machine motor to articletransport 14 and to transfer wheel shaft 17 in labeling head 16.Suitable clutch means (not shown) may be provided to interrupt drive totransfer wheel 17 in the event of failure of interruption in the supplyof articles being labeled.

Head drive shaft 87 extends laterally along labeling head 16 and issuitably journaled in frame member 26 thereof. Both vacuum drive pulley38 and shaft 87 are driven from transfer wheel shaft 17' throughsuitable power transfer means such as gears (not shown) at a speedsufficient to assure a continuous supply of cut labels to transfer wheel17. Shaft 87 drives eccentric shaft 74 by means of drive belt 78.

Referring particularly to FIG. 6, sprocket shaft 55 has an adjustableratchet type input clutch 88 supported on the outermost end thereof.Clutch 88 is driven in oscillating fashion by eccentric shaft 74 throughlink 89 which is pinned off-center to eccentric shaft pulley 90 and toclutch 88. Slitter shaft 56 is geared to rotate in unison with but in adirection opposite to sprocklet drive shaft 55.

Clutch 88 includes a suitable adjustable screw 91 to enable one-waydriving arc of clutch 88 to be adjusted. As is apparent, on rotation ofeccentric shaft 74 by drive belt 78 to operate guillotine 40', eccentric89 first turns the input member of clutch 88 in a forward or label sheetfeeding direction (the direction shown by the solid line arrow in FIG.6). Clutch 88 accordingly engages to drive sprocket shaft 55, which inturn drives slitter shaft 56 to advance label sheet 20, the duration ofengagement of clutch 88 being adjusted to advance label sheet 20' onelabel width. The continued rotation of eccentric shaft 74 operatesguillotine 40 to cut off the label width advanced thereunder, the cutlabels dropping onto transport belt 35. While guillotine 40 is operated,drive link 89 reverses the drive to clutch 88 (the direction shown bythe dotted line arrow in FIG. 6) to interrupt power to shafts 55, 56 andadvance of label sheet 20.

OPERATION During operation of addressing machine 10, a supply ofarticles 13 to be labeled is provided in hopper 12, it being understoodthat hopper 12 is adjustable to accommodate the various size articles.Article transport 14 feeds articles 13 singly from hopper 12 to transferwheel 17 where the articles are labeled, the labeled articles beingdischarged by transport 14 onto the takeaway conveyor 18-.

At the same time, labeling head 16 operates to supply labels 11 fromform 20 to transfer wheel 17. Wheel 17 in turn serves to transfer thelabels 11 or the address information therefrom, onto articles 13.

With operation of addressing machine 10, clutch 88 of labeling head 16,which is drivingly connected to head drive shaft 87 via drive belt 78and link 89, serves to index sprocket drive shaft 55 forward once eachrevolution of shaft 87 to' advance label form one label width. As labelform 20 advances, knives 63 on shaft 56 in cooperation with discs 61 cutform 20 longitudinally to remove margins 65 and separate form 20 inlabel rows 64. At the same time, the previously slitted leading end ofform 20 advances under guillotine 40 and over belt 35 where the labelrows 64 are cut in succession by guillotine knife 69 into individuallabels 11.

It is understood that vacuum from distributing member 44 serves, throughthe medium of perforations 42 in belt 35, to temporarily tack labels 11to the portion of belt 35 moving underneath guillotine 44. As the labelson belt 35 reach drive pulley 38, the vacuum supply to ports 52 inpulley 38 retains the labels on periphery of pulley 38 until the labelscome opposite the rotating transfer shoe at which point the vacuumsupply to ports 52 of pulley 38 is shut off to permit the labels to betransferred from belt and pulley 38 to transfer wheel shoe 30. It isunderstood that vacuum holddown ports 31 in shoe 30 are opened to thevacuum source as transfer wheel shoe 30 comes opposite drive pulley 38by the transfer wheel vacuum control valve means (not shown).

The label supply means, that is, strip feed sprockets 58, guillotine 40and label transport belt 35 are driven in unison with transfer wheel 17at speeds chosen to provide an uninterrupted supply of cut labels totransfer wheel 17, such that each label is correctly positioned ontransfer wheel shoe 30 for transfer of the label itself, or theinformation therefrom, onto the articles 13 as they are brought forwardby transport 14.

While a five row label form 20 is illustrated herein, it is understoodthat form 20 may comprise one or more rows. Where a different typeand/or size label form is employed, form feed sprockets 58 and thecooperating shearing members and knives 61, 63 respectively are adjustedon their respective shafts 55, 56 to correlate their position with thespecific label form used. In that event, clamping collar 107 for themember 61 to be repositioned is partially unscrewed to relieve thecompressive force on the segmented end 104 of housing 100. This permitshousing 100 together with member 61 thereon to be slid along shaft tothe desired position at which point clamping collar 107 is retightenedto lock housing into position on shaft 55. It is understood that lockingkeys 101 accommodate the aforedescribed movement along shaft 55.

Similarly, where knives 63 are adjusted, clamping collar is partiallyunscrewed to relieve the compressive force on locking cylinder 116freeing knife 63 for slidable movement along shaft 56 to desiredposition. Clamping collar 120 may be then retightened to compress thesegmented end 117 of cylinder 116 into locking engagement with shaft 56.

In addition, corresponding adjustments in the relative operating speedsof the various components of labeling head 16 may be contemplated withdifferent types and sizes of label forms to assure a continuous andproperly spaced supply of labels to transfer wheel 17.

While the invention has been described with reference to the structuredisclosed, it is not confined to thedetails set forth, but is intendedto cover such modifications, or changes as may come within the scope ofthe following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an article addressing machine adapted for use with a label supplysheet having margin portions with labels therebetween arranged in one ormore longitudinally extending rows; the combination of:

transfer means for transferring labels to the articles;

article transport means for bringing the articles into transferrelationship with said transfer means for addressing thereof;

adjustable knife means for slitting said label sheet longitudinallyalong the edge of each label row to separate said sheet into individuallabel rows and partially remove said sheet margins before cutting of theindividual label rows; I

means for cutting said individual label rows between successive labelssubsequent to said slitting;

label transport means at the outlet of said cutting means fortransporting labels to said transfer means;

and means cooperable with said label sheet margins to advance said sheetto said cutting means.

2. The addressing machine according to claim 1 in which said knife meanscomprises individual roller knife and shear pairs for each of said labelsheet margins and between each pair of label rows, said label sheetpassing between said knife and shear pair enroute to said cutting means;and

means supporting said roller knife and shear pairs for adjustingmovement in a direction substantially transverse to the direction oflabel sheet advance whereby to permit said knife and shear pairs to beoperatively aligned with the edge of said label row. i

3. The addressing machine according to claim 2 in which said supportingmeans includes a first driven shaft adapted to slidably support saidknives for adjusting movement in said transverse direction;

a second driven shaft adapted to slidably support said shears foradjusting movement in said transverse direction; and

means to selectively lock said knives and shears in adjusted position onsaid first and second shafts respectively.

4. The "addressing machine according to claim 3 including bias meansadapted to urge said knives into operative engagement with the shearassociated therewith.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,556,909 1/1971 Stegman 156-5211,420,814 6/1922 Cheshire 156-521 X 2,516,783 7/1950 Matter 156-2642,715,975 8/1955 Doane et al. 156-521 3,186,890 6/1965 Dorn et al.156-521 X 3,335,047 8/1967 Wilkes 156-521 3,367,822 2/1968 Hofller156-264 3,554,843 1/1971 Kirk et al 156-566 X 3,560,309 2/1971 Gruver eta1 156-521 X 3,586,570 6/1971 Solomon et al. 156-566 X 3,586,585 6/1971Kirk et al 156-528 X 3,607,537 9/1971 Von Hofe 156-521 X 3,607,5799/1971 Enskat 156-521 X 3,647,602 3/1972 McGuire et al. '156-528 HAROLDANSHER, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

